Alarm.



J. M. BUTCHER.

ALARM.

APPucATIoN man 1u1v 12. 191r.

ITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

JAMES M. BUTCHER, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AssIGNOIt To WILLIAM L. Romina, Or

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ALARM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led July 12, 1917. Serial No. 180,065.

To all whom t may concern: l

Be it known that I, JAMES M. BUTCHER, a citizen of the United States, Chicago, iii the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Alarms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to alarms.

One object is to insure in a novel manner a continuous signal action of an alarm.

Another Object is to provide an alarm mechanism adapted to meet the various requirements for successful use.

These and other objects are accomplished by providing an alarm mechanism including signal means, means normally preventing signaling action thereof, and means operatively connected'with said last mentioned means whereby continuous signaling action of said signal means is caused to result.

The invention is illustrated On the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of relatively movable upper and lower windows equipped with my alarm;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, parts being in section, and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail view, parts being in section, of the alarm mechanismtaken in the plane of line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

The various novel features of the invention will be apparent from the followingr description and drawings, and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

hile my invention is not necessarily limited to a burglar alarm, I choose to illus'- trate the same in connection with such a use, and to show it particularly in connection with a window construction including upper and lower windows 10 and 1l, respectively, which are relatively movable with respect to each other.

@ne of the objectionable features in con-` nection with burglar alarms, especially those applied to windows, is that a signaling action of the alarm is not continuous, or at least cannot be relied upon to be continuous. This is one of the disadvantages which I have overcome by means of my novel alarm mechanism. Again, since it is desirable to provide for a wide range of location, maximum facility for attachment and minimum defacement of the relatively movable structures that support the alarm and coact with its releasing elements, application of the and resident of to receive the control element alarm alarm is preferably through the medium of a mounting to which the alarm proper may be secured and which is itself readily attached to one of the structures in position to thrust the releasing element into frictional coaction with the other structure; and since building structures greatly vary in dimensions and it is not always convenient to attach an alarm with accuracy of location, the mounting is composed of two members, one the attaching support and the other the alarm carrier interlocked with the attaching support but longitudinally slidable thereon, with means for arresting it at any adjustment and the releasing element-is presented in position to have its frictional and actuating impingements developed through and regulated by said longitudinal, adjustment. Preferably, this releasing element is located upon the carrier member of the mounting independently of the alarm proper in position to be thrust against the coacting relatively moving structure on the one hand, and of the alarm proper on the other hand.

I prefer to mount my alarm 12 on the upper sash member 13 of the lower window,

and have the same adjustable with respect I to the lower window 11, and also with respect to the upper window 10. To this end I have secured to the sash member 13 a mounting comprising an attaching; supporting and guiding member 14, upon which the alarm proper is slidably mounted. The proper may be secured to the member 14 in any adjusted position by means of a suitable lock screw o-r member 1-5, which is carried by and passes through a carrier preferably formed by a metal strip 16 conned by and sliding longitudinally upon the attaching member, and to which the body 17 of the bell, which in this case is the alarm, is secured in any suitable manner. rIhe working parts of thev bell include`any suitable mechanism. I have here shown various gears to which is operatively connected a ratchet wheel 18 which eoperates with the pawl end 19 of a lever 20, having at its free end a bell clapper or hammer 2l, which is rapidly vibrated into and out of engagement with the removable cover 22 of the ibell for giving the alarm. This lever 20 is pivotally mounted at 23 near its pawl end. Normally the pawl 19 is held in engagement with the ratchet wheel 18 to prevent movesame is initiated, and

nient thereof and also to prevent signaling action of the alarm by a resilient liz-shaped member 2i, one leg of which is suitably anchored to a stationary part 25, and the lower end of the other leg of which passes over the outer side of the lever 2O and is provided with a plunger 26 which extends outwardly through an opening 27 in the body of the bell. rlhe essential features here are an alarm or signal which will maintain its alarm emitting function, once the a control element through which to initiate action in the alarm. Combined with these features, the invention contemplates a release element acting upon the alarm through the control element whenever relative movement takes place between the two structures of the opening (window, door, or the like) to be guarded. The essential features of this release element are that it is adapted to be actuated through frictional impingement against the normal surface of wood, glass, metal or other material of the coacting structure, without the interposition of gearing, covering or other vspecial surfaceshaping attachments on the latter; also that said releasing element shall be so presented as to have its impingement developed by the longitudinal adjustment of the carrying member of the mounting so that various dimensions of the coacting structures may be compensated for, and pressure may be regulated, in addition to moving the alarm to and from. operative positions. Preferably this releasing element has its bearings directly upon the sliding carrier of the mounting so that the alarm is brought under its control by merely attaching the alarm to said slide.

According to the preferred method of reall of the invention, a recessed Iportion 28 of a lever 29 engages the outer end of the plunger 26 to normally hold the resilient member 24 against the lever 20 to hold the pawl 19 and the ratchet wheel 18 stationary. Under such conditions the alarm is prevented Ifrom sounding. rlhe lever 29 is provided with a circular portion 30 eccentrically mounted upon a pin 31 extending between side plates 32 preferably struck up from the metallic strip 16. This circular portion is provided with teeth or serrations 33 or other suitable friction surface which normally engage with a member, in this 'case the window 10, which is movable relatively to the other member, which in this case is the window 1l, upon which the alarmproper is mounted. The friction surface 33 on the lever 29 permits operative contact with any part of the window sash or glass without the necessity for an attachment on the other sash.

ln llig. 1 it will be noted that the-alarm is mounted upon' the window member 11 and secured in such an adjusted position izing this part neemt-svi window lowered, or if there is any relative movement whatsoever between the upi lper and lower windows, the lever member 29 will be rotated in a clockwise direction carrying the detent portion 2S thereof beyond the plunger 26, the iiat portion 3/-1 of the lever member 29 swinging around and into a position adjacent the plunger 28 and permitting the latter to move outwardly thereby reducing the pressure upon the lever 2O and permitting the ratchet wheel 18 to rotate under the influence of its actuating spring to vibrate the hammer 21 against the cover of the bell to sound the alarm. lt is seen therefore that upon a slight clockwise rotation of the lever member 29 the bell hammer is not only liberated but is permitted to be vibrated for sounding the alarm.

lt is to be noted that under these conditions the alarm will continue to sound until the spring is run down, for even though the windows should be given a relative movement which would have a tendency to throw the lever control member 29 back into its normal position, such return action is impossible. 'lhe control lever 29 can be returned only by hand; that is by pushing the lever in a counter-clockwise direction, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. When this is done the resilient member 24C is pressed back into its normal position to hold the pawl and also the bell hammer 21, respectively.

ln this particular case l have shown the control member in engagement with the upper window. llt may, however, be in engagement with the window jamb or in engagement with any other part where there is relative movement between that part and the window member carrying the alarm proper. However, l have shown in the drawings the manner of mounting which TL prefer.

lt is evident that there may be various modifications of the invention herein particularly shown and described, and it is my intention to cover all such modications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

l-claim:

1. ln alarm mechanism, the combination of signal means adapted to give a continuous signal action, trip means normally preventing signaling action thereof, and an eccentrically mounted member havin a friction surface and operably associate with said trip means whereby the trip means may be acted upon to permit continuous signaling action of said signal means.

2. lin alarm mechanism, the combination of signal means includingr a movable bell hammer,` which when libe-rated is actuated continuously, means for normally holding the bell hammer stationary, and eccentrically mounted means having a friction surface operatively connected with said holding means for liberating the bell hammer.

3. In alarm mechanism, the combination of signal means including a lever having a bell hammer, a resilient member normally arranged over said lever for holding the hammer stationary, and a movable member operatively connected with said resilient holding member for liberating the hammer to permit the same to give an alarm, said movable member having a friction surface for operably engaging any port-ion of a moving element.

4. In alarm mechanism, the combination of signal means including a bell hammer capable of continuous action when liberated, a resilient member associated with said hammer member and having a laterally extending projection, and a control member engageable with said projection for normally holding the bell hammer stationary, said control member having a friction surface for operably engaging a moving element and when actuated adapted to liberate said bell hammer.

5. In alarm mechanism, the combination of signal means including a bell hammer capable of continuous action when liberated, a resilient member associated with said hammer member and having a laterally extending projection, and an eccentrically mounted control member engageable with said projection for normally holding the bell hammer stationary, said control member when actuated liberating said bell hammer, said control member having a friction surface for operably engaging a moving element.

6. In alarm mechanism, the combination of a bell having a body portion with an opening therein, a lever having a bell hammer thereon, a resilient member engageable with said lever and having a projection eX- tendin'g through said opening, and a control member normally engaging said projection to press the resilient member against said lever to hold the hammer stationary and operable t0 liberate said hammer to sound an alarm, said control member having a friction surface for engagement by a moving element.

7. In combination, relatively movable window membersfand an alarm connected to one of said members and having means frictionally operable by the other member to cause a continuous signaling action of the alarm upon a relative movement of said window members and even after said members are returned to their normal positions.

8. In combination, relatively movable window members, and an alarm mechanism mounted on one having means normally for preventing signaling action thereof, said alarm mechanism havin means frictionall y operable by the other of said window -mernbers for causing a continuous signa-ling action of said alarm mechanism upon a relative movement of said window members and even after said members are returned to their normal positions.

9. In combination, upper and lower windowwmembers having a relatively movable action with respect to each other, and alarm mechanism secured to said lower window member and having means normally engaging with the upper Window member and being frictionally operable by the latter for causing a continuous signalin action of said alarm mechanism upon a re ative movement of said window members and even after said members are returned to their normal positions.

l0. In combination, relatively movable members, and alarm mechanism adjustably mounted on one of said members and being frictionally operable by the other for giving a continuous signal upon relative movement vof said members and even after said members are returned to their normal positions.

l1. In combination, signal means and a support, the support adapted to be fixed to a window sash, said signal means being movably mounted in the support, a trip carried by said signal and opera-bly connected'thereto to normally prevent signaling action thereof, said trip having a friction surface for engaging a window pane, whereby the trip may be actuated to permit continuous signalin actionof said signal means when said win ow pane is moved relatively to said signal means.

12. In an 'alarm device, for mounting upon the one and coacting with the other of two structures between which there is relative movement; an alarm, a mounting therefor comprisingan attaching support adapted to be secured upon the one of said structures, an alarm-carrier interlocked with said support but having adjustment thereon, a locking device for lixing the carrier in its adjusted position2 and a frictionally actu- 115 ated alarm releasing element moved to and from a surface of said other structure by said adjustment and presented for frictional actuating impingement substantially in the direction of said adjustment.

13. In an alarm device, for mounting upon the one and coacting with the other of two structures between which there is relative movement; an alarm, a mounting therefor comprisin an attaching support adapted to 125 be secure upon the one of said structures, an alarm-carrier interlocked with said su port but having adjustment thereon, a loc ing device for fixing the carrierin its adjustments, and a frictionally actuated alarm 13@ releasing element, mounted on the carrier independently of the alarm, in position to be moved to and from a surface oi' said other structure by said adjustment and presented for frictional actuating` impingement substantially in the direction of said adjustment.

ld. lin an alarm device, adapted o mounting upon the one and coacting with the other of two structures between which there is relative movement; a continuous action alarm, a mounting therefor comprising 'an elongated attaching support adapted to loe secured upon the one of said structures in position presented longitudinally toward Laet/,effi

the other 01" said structures, an alarm carrier interlocked With said attaching support but sliding longitudinally thereon for adjustment to and from the surface of the said other structure, a, locking device for fixing the adjustment between said support and carrier, and a frictionally actuated rotary releasing element moved to and from said surface of the other structure by said adjustment and presented to have its frictional actuating impingement substantially in the direction of said adjustment.

Signed at Chicago, State of illinois, ith day of July, i917.

JAMES M. BUTCEER.

this 

